MAHATMA GANDHI
(MARTYRS' DAY 30 JANUARY)
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
That's his full name as a Gujarati
Native of Porbandar British state then
Youngest among four children.
Father was a Gujarati bania
Mother was a vaishanava
Father was a dewan in Porbandar
Later moved to Rajkot a post better.
Married at 13 to year older Kasturba
Had to bear lustful separation yea
Bore a son five years later
Awaited future prospects proper.
Gandhi did bar at law in London
Returned to India but failed to begin
Offered a lawyer job in South Africa's Durban
To work on case of a Gujarati businessman.
Stayed in South Africa to help local Indians
Faced discrimination from local Whites
Determined to fight it out peacefully
Stood to support Indians firmly.
Spent twentyone years in South Africa
Finally decided to return to India
Found similar issues here to solve
Determined to permanently resolve.
His speech was very inspiring
People flocked to hear him speaking
Though disinterested in politics
He was destined to serve our citizens.
He was briefly made congress president
He got deeply involved in its political intent
He adopted rural dress of the poor
He lived like a common villager.
Instrumental in finding solutions to people's woes
He was arrested and jailed several times
As he had been a lawyer in courts
He saved himself from British laws.
From earlier days he cared much for self esteem
He believed that to live like that is supreme
Tagore thus named him a Mahatma
But he just followed theory of karma.
He ate satvik food and went on long fasts
To force British to quit and grant independence
He went on a long march to Dandi
To oppose salt tax nonviolently.
This prompted people to join him in all his actions
Quit India movement led to nationwide protests
British agreed to grant independence
Bose called him father of the nation.
It's unfortunate this led to partition
Dividing the land mass of the nation
Many migrated either ways with great discontent
Gandhi was assassinated by his inveterate opponent.
He wrote many books true to his greatness
His main teachings were truth and non-violence
Forgiveness perseverance and honesty
His words of wisdom are popular even to this day.
India declared second October his birthday
As a national government holiday
And thirtieth January his death day
As nationwide martyr's day.
- Gopinath S
(penned without ChatGPT support)